Canon EOS 7D Review

August 2010, Brian Murphy (Foreword by C.Garrard)

Foreword- Brian Murphy is an excellent photographer and one of AlphaMountWorlds most knowledgeable contributors to our forums. Today we share with you Brian's user review of his new Canon EOS 7D DSLR, a camera which Brian purchased to compliment his Alpha gear initially and since has become his main DSLR workhorse of choice.

Ricoh CX3 Review (Full Size Sample Gallery)

August 2010, Barry Fitzgerald

Just about every camera maker now has a super zoom compact out in the market, but Ricoh were one of the earlier camera companies to have longer zoom models in the shape of the “Capilio R” models. Over time the R series turned into the “CX” series of cameras, this is the third version sporting the “CX” badge.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 Review

August 2010, Carl Garrard

Review: Panasonic's first Micro Four Thirds camera to hit the market in 2008, the Lumix DMC-G1, created a buzz (mainly good and some bad) unlike anything I have seen since digital photography went mainstream. The G1 (as we shall call it) went on later to receive many awards, including Popular Photography's camera of the year in 2008. Since then, Micro Four Thirds (m4/3) cameras by both Panasonic and Olympus have dominated the sales in the Digital Interchangeable Lens Camera  (D.I.L.C) category. Samsung and Sony now stiffen the competition, however, it goes without saying that Panasonic indeed have the head start here and a more refined product overall. Owning my own Panasonic cameras I wanted to see how the G1 would hold up against some of the finest designs Panasonic has produced to date, the DMC-L1 and DMC-LC1.

Pentax K7 Review (Updated 7-29-2010: Catch-In Focus/Fine Tune LCD Color, FIRMWARE 1.10 Section Added, Reverse Film Mode Samples)

May 2010, Carl Garrard

Review-Ricoh GR Digital III 

August 2009, Carl Garrard (Updated 9-30- New Firmware V1.21 Available!, 7-26-2010 Reliability Report)

Is the Ricoh GR Digital III the best digital Ricoh Camera to date? This question almost immediatley popped into my mind while I handled the pre-production copy of the GR III, and the same question was repeated after using the final production version of this camera for this review. If you think the GR Digital III looks simliar to the camera it replaces, it does. From the front image of the GR Digital III it is hard to distinguish it from the GR Digital II it replaces, less one very important detail on the front of the lens housing- the 1:1.9 designation.

GXR P10 Unit Review- (Part I Samples and Initial Impressions, Part II ISO Test, Part III Speed/Buffer, Part IV Macro Performance, Part V VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder, Battery Life, Lens/Test @ 300mm, P10 vs S10 )

June 2010, Carl Garrard (Updated 7-05-2010)

Today the Ricoh GXR P10 Unit arrived for review so as soon as the battery charged and I set up the GXR body to my personal preferences, I set out to get a few samples. For those unaware about the new camera unit, the P10 is a 28-300mm f/3.5-f/5.6 lens and Back Side Illuminated CMOS 1/2.3"sensor combo, topped off with Ricoh's newest Smooth Imaging IV Processing Engine. From my understanding this configuration is newly designed and although similar to Ricoh's CX3 in specifications, the lens has been designed specifically for the new unit housing, and the image processing has been fined tuned as well. With the battery charged, I set outside to snap a few shots to see how this combo would do (like you, I've been waiting a long time for this one).

Infrared Photography II- Panasonic DMC-L1

July 2010, Carl Garrard

Summer is here. Lots of sun, and that means a lot of infrared light to play with. Not long ago I decided to get another camera converted to Infrared from Spencer's Camera in Utah, this time with a 665nm Color Amplified filter which is just a tad "weaker" than the filter we used for the A500. This filter will allow a bit more color light spectrum to pass through to the sensor, and gives me more options for infrared creativity. As you can see by the image inset to the left, I also have more options for the types lenses I can use on the L1. Add that the L1 has a couple of neat tricks up its sleeve during the live view exposure process, and this makes one heck of a good body for Infrared Conversion.

Panasonic DMC-LC1 Review- A Real Love Affair (Review Update 6-20-2010, Diary Gallery Update 8-11)

June 2010, Carl Garrard

I love photography and photographic equipment. Rangefinder cameras especially hold a special place in my heart. It may very well be because of the build quality and straight forward logical placement of controls mixed harmoniously with the boxy design that seems impossibly comfortable, yet somehow is. Or rather, it may be the historical heritage and design of a rangefinder that appeal to me. All rangefinder styled cameras vary ergonomically, and authentically styled like a real traditional rangefinder. No camera that doesn't have a real rangefinding viewfinder can actually be considered an authentic rangefinder. However, the viewfinder isn't the only part of a rangefinder that gives it that designation. Its size, styling, control surfaces and ergonomics, all play a role in the "rangefinder" branding. By all intents and purposes the LC1 is my pseudo Leica M camera.  I'm dreaming a bit here... but it certainly seems it would handle like one.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 Review - V1.04 Firmware Long Term Use and Reliability Report II

(Updated May, 2010)

May 2009, Carl Garrard

Recently I received my serviced Sony A100 back from the Sony Laredo Texas facility. Sony did a great job at cleaning up my old workhorse by putting a new grip on, cleaning up the viewfinder, and doing a thorough general inspection of all of the moving parts. You can't even tell it is nearly 3 years old and that it has over 20,000 actuations on the shutter. My Sony A100 works as good today as it did brand new only now... just a little bit better with version 1.04 of the firmware. This review is a tribute, not only to Sony's first DSLR but as to my first as well. I've used/owned many other SLRs and even DSLRs prior to the A100 in my lifetime, but the A100 remains my first bought and paid for DSLR. Since I never got around to reviewing the A100 as I had hoped, it is now time to complete one. Sony just kept me way too busy in 2008 to consider reviewing the A100.